Method and apparatus for connecting a pipe line to an underwater well



March 1967, H. L. SHATTO, JR 3,307,627

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONNECTING A PIPE LINE TO AN UNDERWATER WELLFiled June 20, 1963 3 SheetsSheet 1 INVENTORI H. L. SHATTO, JR 14mm HISAGENT March 7, 1967 SHATTO, JR 3,307,627

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONNECTING A PIPE LINE TO AN UNDERWATER WELLFiled June 20, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4

INVENTORZ H. L. SHATTO, JR.

8Y1 .Mm OMZE H IS AGENT March 7, 1967 H. 1.. SHATTO, JR 3,307,627

1 v METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONNECTING A PIPE LINE TO AN UNDERWATERWELL Filed June 20, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. IO

FIG. II

INVENTORI H. L. SHATTO, JR.

BY: bl M Q Cuffi ms AGENT United States Patent O Delaware Filed June 20,1963, Ser. No. 289,241 17 Claims. (Cl. 166-.6)

This invention relates to operations to be carried out under water, andpertains more particularlyv to methods and apparatus for connectingtogether the ends of two underwater pipe lines or other spaced-apartelements, or for connecting an underwater pipe line toan underwaterinstallation.

A relative recent development is the drilling of oil and gas wells atoffshore locations wherein the wellhead assembly or other associatedinstallation is positioned at a substantial distance below the surfaceof the water or on the ocean floor. During the drilling and completionof a well of this type, suitable provisions are made for maintainingcontact between the vessel on the surface of the water andthe'underwater wellhead, as by means of a plurality of guide lines or byone or more elongated pipe strings. Using guide lines or a pipe stringbetween the vessel and the ocean floor, the well may be drilled and allthe necessary equipment lowered into place on top of the wellhead. Whenthe well has been completed the guide lines extending to the vessel aredisconnected from the vessel and either dropped to the ocean floor orsecured to a buoy which marks the location of the well.

The use of buoys to mark a well or to support guide lines is notdesirable since they constitute a navigation hazard and may break freefrom the cables. Additionally, the dropping of guide lines to the oceanfioor is not too satisfactory since the lines often become entangled andare subject to corrosion. However, it has heretofore been necessary toeither mark the location of well guide lines, or to provide a method ofre-establishing guide lines between a vessel and a wellhead of the oceanfloor in order to carry out certain workover operations of the wellhead.For example, in the event that a break occurs in the pipe line extendingalong the ocean floor to the wellhead, it is necessary to either repairthe damage to pipe line or to disconnect it from the wellhead and toreconnect a new pipe line to the wellhead. Heretofore, this operation ofconnecting a pipe line to an underwater wellhead has not been possiblein waters deeper than a diver can operate unless guide elements areprovided between the wellhead and the workover vessel at the surface ofthe water.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide amethod and apparatus for connecting an underwater pipe line to anunderwater wellhead or other underwater installation without the use ofdivers while controlling the operations from a remote location, such forexample as from a work-over vessel at the surface of the Water.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method andapparatus for connecting together mating ends of an underwater pipe linewhile controlling operations from a remote location.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a method andapparatus for positioning underwater two elements in spaced apartrelationship and subsequently ice bringing them together in co-nnectableengagement while controlling operations from a remote location.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a method andapparatus whereby a pipe line may be lowered through a body of water toan underwater wellhead and aligned with and secured to a mating fittingon the underwater wellhead.

A further object of the present invention is to provide apparatus forengaging two mating pipe line ends, positioning the two ends in axialspaced relationship one from the other and connecting the two endstogether in fixed fiuidtight engagement.

These and other objects of this invention will be understood from thefollowing description taken with reference to the drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the operation of lowering acable from a vessel at the surface of the water after the cable has beenconnected to the lowe end of a manipulator device;

FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a pipe line section beingpositioned adjacent an underwater wellhead structure by a lowering andmanipulator device which has been positioned on the wellhead device;

FIGURE 2A is a diagrammatic view illustrating another form of amanipulator device positioned on the ocean floor and arranged forengaging and connecting together two mating ends of a pipe line;

FIG.'3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a manipulator device seatedon an underwater wellhead while bringing the end of a pipe line intoaxial alignment with a mating end of a pipe line or fitting alreadysecured to the wellhead;

FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic view taken partially in longitudinalcross-section of the pipe aligning and pipe connecting mechanism carriedby the manipulator device of FIGURE 3;

' FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIGURE4; FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 66 of FIGURE4;

FIGURE 7 is a plan view of the upper pipe engaging element of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmental view taken in cross-section of another form ofthe support bracket of the rpesent pipe line connector;

FIGURE 9 is a left-hand view of FIGURE 8; and,

FIGURES l0 and 11 are diagrammatic views illustrating the pipe lineconnector of the present invention being used to connect pipe lines toan underwater well and an underwater production facility or trap farm,respectively.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawing, a drilling vessel, platformor barge 11, of any suitable floating or fioatable type is illustratedas floating on the surface of the water 12 while being substantiallyfixedly positioned over a preselected well location by suitablevessel-positioning means well known to the art, or by being anchored tothe ocean floor 13 by anchor lines 14 and 15 running to anchors (notshown). Equipment of this type may be used when carrying on welldrilling operations or well workover operations in water varying fromabout feet to 1500 feet or more. The barge or vessel 11 is equipped witha suitable derrick 16 containing a fall line system 17. The vessel 11 isalso provided with other anxiliary equipment needed during welloperations, such as for example as a rotary table positioned on theoperating deck, a hinged slip and spider assembly, etc.

The exact position of an underwater well is known on a map and a vessell11 may be positioned over the wellhead assembly in any suitable manner,as by use of shoran or other similar position-finding systems well knownto the art.

The underwater wellhead structure illustrated in FIGURE 2 is similar tothat which is assembled during the drilling and completion of anunderwater well in accordance with a present known method. The wellheadassembly 19 includes a large-diameter conductor or foundation pile 20which is secured in the well by means of a cement 21. The upper end ofthe wellhead assembly has a casing head 22 closed by a production bonnet23 on which are mounted master valves 24. A production T 25 above themaster valves 24 is adapted to receive one or more flowlines 26. Aswabbing valve 28 is mounted above the production T 25 and the top ofthe well is closed by means of a lubricator barrel 29 and a plug 36. Thetop of the plug 30 is provided with a fishing head 31 by which it may bereadily removed.

Fixedly secured to the foundation pile 20 near the top thereof is atrack 32 which preferably extends around the foundation pile while beingpositioned outwardly thereof. As shown in FIGURE 2, the track 32 isadapted to receive and hang therefrom an underwater manipulator device35 which is self-propelled at least in a horizontal direction and ispreferably selectively buoyant.

The manipulator device, generally represented by numeral 35, may be ofany suitable type. The manipulator device comprises a body member 36having means such as wheels 37 for securing it to a wellhead assembly orother underwater assembly, that is, to the track 32 in this particularillustration. The wheels 37 are preferably actuated by motor meansoperatively connected to the wheels and positioned either inside oroutside the body member 36. Additionally, the body member 36 ispreferably provided with a pair of idler rollers 38 mounted on anoutwardly-extending frame 39 so as to contact the outer surface of thefoundation pile 2! as shown in FIGURE 2, when the drive wheels 37 arehung on the track 32. Alternatively, the rollers 38 could be powered tomake friction contact with the outer surface of the foundation pile todrive the manipulator device 36 around the wellhead assembly.

A portion of the body member is aramged for downward extension from thebody member, preferably in the form of a telescoping arm 40, as shown inFIGURE 2. Mounted at the end of the telescoping arm or body portion 40is a laterally-extending cylinder 41 having a telescoping arm 42extendible outwardly therefrom. The arm 42 is provided with a rotatablewrench head- 43 (FIGURE 4) that is power-operated by suitable motormeans mounted in the arm 42 or in the cylinder 41, preferably in therear portion thereof. A television camera 45 and suitable lights 46 aremounted adjacent the movable arm 42 of the manipulator device,preferably on a power-actuated light and/or camera swivel and tiltingmechanism 47, while a television viewing screen (not shown) ispositioned on the vessel 11 at the surface.

The manipulator device 35 may be suspended on a hook or ring 56 having aweight-supporting and currenttransmitting cable attached to its upperend. Alternatively, a weight-supporting cable 51 may be secured to thering 50 while a separate line 51a leads down along the cable 51 into themanipulator housing 36 for supplying current and/or hydraulic pressurefluid thereto. Thus, power for operating the manipulator device and itsassociated equipment is sent down the cable 51 from the vessel 11 whiletelevision signals are returned up the cable to the vessel.

At the same time the manipulator device may be lowered from the vessel11 by means of the cable 51 and its hoist 49 on the vessel 11 to anyselected level in the water. For moving the manipulator device 35laterally at the end of the cable 51, the manipulator device 35 isprovided with suitable propulsion means such, for example, asmotor-driven propellers 52 which are mounted outboard of the body member36 on at least two sides thereof. At least a portion of the body member36 may form a void chamber which may be selectively flooded by controlsat the vessel 11 for adjusting the buoyancy of the manipulator device35. Vertical position of the manipulator device 35 in the water may beadjusted by other propellers 53, especially if the manipulator devicehas a slight negative buoyancy. If additional buoyancy is desired,suitable buoyancy tanks may be secured to the weight-supportin g cable51.

In order to connect two sections of an underwater pipe line together,the manipulator device is provided with a suitable pair of arms whichare movable relative to thebody member of the manipulator device 35 andare movable with respect to each other. The movable arms: may be securedto the manipulator device in any suitable manner. Thus, in one form ofthe invention the movable arms may take the form of the pipe lineconnector generally represented by numeral 54 in the drawings. Inthearrangement illustrated the two arms forming the: pipe line connector 54are mounted on the end of the: telescoping arm 42 so as to be movable inany direction.

As shown in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 the pipe line con-- nector 54 is providedwith a body member 55 having a longitudinal slot 56 extending inwardlyfrom one sidethereof. The second movable arm may be in the form of aplate 57 movably mounted on a shaft 58 in fixed spaced relationshipfrom. the body member 55 forming. the first movable arm. Suitable meansare provided for moving the plate arm 57 toward and away from the arm.formed by the body member 55. As shown in FIG- URE 7, the plate 57 isprovided with a slot 59 extend-- ing in from one side thereof which slotis adapted to be in alignment with the slot 56 in the housing 55. Theslots 56 and 59 have a width equal to at least the outside diameter ofthe pipe to be positioned therein whilepreferably of a width that isslightly less than the out-- side diameter of any coupling carried onthe pipe. Thus, the slots provide pipe engaging means adapted, forexample, to be seated below a pipe coupling so as to lift or move thepipe to a desired position.

Any suitable electrical, mechanical or hydraulic actuating means may beemployed to move the arm 57 relative to the other arm or body 55. Forexample, the shafts 58 and 58a may be in the form of lead screws. Theshafts or lead screws 58 and 58a extend into the housing 55 throughbearing 60 and are provided with gears 61 and 62 mounted within thehousing 55 to mesh with actuating screws 63 and 64. The screws 63 and 64are in turn connected through gears 65, 66 and 67 to a shaft 68 having awrench head 69 formed at the end thereof. Preferably, as shown inFIGURES 4 and 5, one of the pipe engaging arms is provided with suitablepipe clamping means for fixedly securing a pipe thereto. For example, inFIGURE 5, the body member 55 is provided with a pair of clampingelements or arms 70 and 71 which, through linkage members 72, 73, 74 and75, are operatively connected to the end of actuating screw 76 which maybe provided with a wrench head 77 (FIG- URE 4) by which it may beturned. The clamping arms 70 and 71 are mounted on pivot pins 78 and 79for movement into and out of the slot 56, as illustrated in FIGURE 5, inorder to clamp around a section of pipe 80 positioned therein. Thus, itmay be seen that when the end of one pipe section is positioned withinthe slot 59 of one movable arm 57, and the end of another pipe sectionis positioned in the slot 56 of the other movable arm or body member 55,the two pipe ends may be drawn together into axially aligned engagement.

Suitable means are provided for securing the pipe connector 54 to themanipulator device. In the event that it is desired to leave the pipeline connector 54 on the connected ends of a pipe line, suitable meansare head 43thereof (FIGURE 5).

Fixedly secured to the housing 55 so as to suround at least one of theactuating screw heads 69 or 77 is a locking' bracket 81 which may be inthe form of a short cylindrical section having an end plate 82 adaptedto engage the socket wrench 443 when it is withdrawn to its mostretracted position on the telescoping arm 42. A vertical opening 83 isprovided in the locking bracket 81 which starts slightly in front of theend plate 32. As shown in FIGURE 5, the opening 86 is slightly longerand wider than the wrench head or socket wrench 43 (FIGURE 4) so that itmay be withdrawn from the locking bracket 81.

Likewise, the connecting vertical opening 83a adjacent -ope'ning'83 iswider than the telescoping arm or shaft 42 secured to the socket wrenchhead 43 so that the shaft may pass therethrough. Thus, a recessedportion 84 is formed between the end plate 82 (FIGURE 4) and the end ofthe opening 86, the recess being of a size to accommodate the end of thesocket wrench head 43. When the wrench head is, positioned in recess andthe telescoping arm 4-2 withdrawn to its most inwardly position in bodymember 44, (FIGURE 8), the pipe connecting unit 54 could not be removedfrom the wrench head 43. If desired, a second locking bracket similar to81, but turned upside down, could be mounted around the wrench head 69so that its opening would be adjacent the opening 83 so that :a wrenchhead could move from one to the other, as shown in FIGURES 8 and 9 wherethe wrench head 43 is withdrawn into the recess 84a. A similar form of apipe connector is illustrated in FIGURE 2A as being connected to a pipeline 85 which :is-to be positioned in alignment and connected to a pipeline 86 lying on the ocean floor. In this arrangement the manipulatordevice 87 is provided with fixed or adjustable legs 88, 89, :90 and 91positioned on the ocean floor so that a downwardly extending telescopingarm 42 may position the pipe engaging arms 55 and 57. i

In one method of utilizing the apparatus of the present invention, apipeline may be connected to an underwater installation in the followingmanner. With the manipulator device 35 (FIGURE 1) on or at the level ofthe ;vessel 11 1, the .coupling 92 at one end of a pipe line 93 would behung from the pipe engaging arm or body member 55 of the pipe connector54 and fixedly secured in the slot 56'thereof by clamping the pipe withclamps 70 and 71 against the rear of the slot 56, as illustrated inFIGURE 5. With the end of the pipe 93 fixedly secured within the pipeconnector 54 which in turn is secured to the manipulator device 35through arm 42, the combinedapparatus would be loweredby a hoist 95 fromthe vessel as shown in FIGURE 1 to a position adjacent an underwaterwellhead 19 as shown in FIGURE 2. If

necessary the propellers 52 may be actuated to drive the manipulator andend of pipe line through the water to a seated position on thecircumferential track 32 of the wellhead 19. During the pipe connectingoperations, ob- .servations ofv the work are carried out by means of thetelevision camera 46.

1The manipulator device is moved around the track 32 until the pipe lineconnector 54 is in the vicinity of the well fitting to which the pipeline 93 is to be secured. For purposes of illustration, the flowline 26from the wellhead 19 is shown as being provided at its lower end with afemale coupling adapted to meet with the male coupling 92 carried at theend of the pipe line 93. As shown in FIGURE 3 the coupling 94 may beprovided with a locking screw having a wrench head 95 adapted to beactuated by the socket wrench of the manipulator de- ,vice so that thelocking screw can be run in and engage a groove 96 formed on the outersurface of the male coupling unit 92. With the apparatus positioned asshown in FIGURE 2,

the telescoping arm 40 is raised upwardly and the telescoping arm 42 ismoved outwardly so that the upper pipe engaging arm 57 (FIGURE 7) of theapparatus engages the pipe 26 above its coupling 94 with the pipe 26being within the slot 59 of the plate or pipe engaging arm 57. With theapparatus positioned as shown in FIGURE 3, the socket wrench 43, (FIGURE4), is manipulated and moved out of the locking bracket 81 through theopening 83 to engage the wrench head 69 of shaft 68. Rotation of shaft68 actuates lead screws formed on shafts 58 and 58a so as to hole theplate 57 stationary white the housing member 5 5 is moved upwardlytogether with the male coupling 92 of the pipe line 93 until it is inaligned axial engagement with the female coupling 92 at the lower end ofpipe line 26.

If it is desired to secure the pipe couplings 92 and 94 together andthen remove the pipe aigning and connecting apparatus 54 from thecouplings, the socket wrench 43 (FIGURE 4) at the end of the telescopingarm 42 would be moved to the wrench head 95 of the looking screw ofcoupling 94 (FIGURE 3) so as to run the screw into the locking groove 96of coupling 92. The socket wrench head 43 of the telescopic arm 42(FIGURE 4) would then be moved to wrench head 69 so that the telescopingarm 42 could be rotated to actuate shaft 68 so that plate 57 and housing55 would be forced into spaced relationship as shown in FIGURE 4-by therotation of the lead screws 58 and 58a. The socket wrench head 43 wouldthen be moved to the head 77 at the end of the actuating screw 76 so asto open the clamping arms '70 and 71 (FIGURE 5). In this case, theclamping arm 7-1 wouldmove to its retracted position 71a and the otherclamping arm 70 would move to a similar position. The telescoping arm 42would then be pulled to its most retracted position so that the wrenchhead 43 was in the recess 84 of the locking bracket 81 with the screwhead 77 still in the wrench socket. The entire pipe line connector 54-could be then removed and brought back to the vessel by the manipulatordevice. Under some circumstances, however,'it may be desired to leavethe pipe line connector in place of the wellhead especially if thecoupling 94 does not have a locking screw or other suitable connectormeans 95.

The pipe line connector of the present invention may be employed in asimilar manneras described with regard to FIGURE 2A where it is desiredto connect a new section of pipe line to a section of pipe line alreadyon the ocean floor. In this case the new section of pipe line 85 wouldbe connected to one arm 55 of the manipulator device 87 and lowered intoplace therewith. By moving the other pipe engaging arm 57 of themanipulatordevice into engagement with the pipe line 86 behind itscoupling, the two pipe line sections 85 and 86 could be drawn togetherand connected. It is to be understood that the manipulator device 87could also be used in a similar manner for connecting two pipe linesalready positioned on the ocean floor. First, one end of a pipe linesection would be engaged by one arm of the pipe connector device andthen moved into position adjacent the end of the other pipe line whichwould be engaged by the other arm so that the two pipe line ends couldbe pulled together in aligned engagement. Additionally, it is to beunderstood that the reverse operations could be employed in both casesin order to disconnect one section of pipe line from another or from afitting in an underwater wellhead. While the connecting apparatus hasbeen termed a pipe line connector and has been described with regard toconnecting one underwater pipe line to another undelwater pipe line orto an underwater installation, it is to be realized that the presentmethod and apparatus can be employed for connecting other spaced-apartelements which must necessarily be brought into a definite alignedposition before one can be connected to the other.

The pipe line connector of the present invention is designed to permitthe forcing into engagement of two ends of pipe that have previouslybeen brought close enough together to permit attachment of the pipe lineconnector device. The connector has enough mechanical advantage to pullthe ends together even though considerable force is required. Thiscondition can be arranged at an underwater wellhead or trap form orother point where connection is required.

The need for great mechanical advantage .arises because or" the highforces required to force rigid pipes to bend and be moved intoengagement so that only a very limited strength of the manipulratorsswimmers or even its socket wrench turret head is required. The largeforce to move the pipe and the reaction to this force are both containedinside the pipe line connector device with the manipulator providingonly the strength to lift the coupling device into position onto pipeends already moved into approximate aligned position by other means.

Thus, in FIGURE 10, the underwater wellhead assembly 19 is provided witha flexible loop flowline 26a which is run down into place (e.g., whenthe well is closed at the top) so that the flowline coupling 94a ispositioned close to and in substantial alignment with a mating coupling92a on the end of a pipe line which has been previously installed andrigidly secured to an arm 97 extending vertically a distance outboard ofthe Wellhead so that the manipulator 35 can move around the wellhead.Ihus, the manipulator can carry the pipe line connector 54 down intoplace and connect it to the two couplings 92a and 94a after which wrenchhead would be moved to nut 69, to actuate it and pull the couplingstogether. If desired, the connector 54 could be left in place.

In FIGURE 11, the apparatus of the present invention is shown as beingused to connect together two sections of an underwater pipe line at anunderwater production facility or trap farm. The production facility maycomprise any suitable equipment well known to the art for metering,separating, storing, or merely manifolding oil or gas field production.Thus, a series of tanks 100, 101 and Hi2 are illustrated as beingarranged in a line with a manipulator track 103 running along at leastone side for receiving a manipulator 35 thereon. The manipulator 35 isprovided with the pipeline connector 54 of the present invention forconnecting together the mating ends of two pipes 104 and 1&5.

I claim as my invention:

1. Apparatus for engaging underwater two spaced-apart elements andbringing them into alignment, said apparatus comprising:

(a) underwater-operable manipulator means movable through a body ofwater to a position adjacent said spaced-apart elements; I

(b) first and second movable arm means axially spaced along asubstantially common axis and extending outwardly of and carried by saidmanipulator means;

(() element-engaging means carried by each of said movable manipulatorarm means for separately engaging one of said spaced-apart elements;

((1) prime-mover means carried by said manipulator means and operativelyconnected to said arm means for actuating and moving at least one ofsaid arm means with relation to the other along said axis when bothelement-engaging means are in engagement with said spaced-apartelements; and,

(e) guide means extending between said arm means whereby said arm meansmove toward and away from each other along a predetermined path.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 including support means carried by saidmanipulator outwardly thereof for operatively positioning saidmanipulator means adjacent to at least one of said spaced-apartelements.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 including propulsion means carried by saidmanipulator means for moving said manipulator means at least laterallythrough a body of Water.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 including cable means secured to saidmanipulator means and extending to a vessel at the surface of said bodyof Water.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said cable means includesweight-supporting cable means and signal-transmission cable means. v

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of saidelement-engaging means is adapted to-close substan tially around one ofsaid spaced-apart elements. 7

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein. said element-engaging means arepipe-engaging means.

8:. The apparatus of claim 1 including observation means carried by saidmanipulator means and adapted to be directed toward element-engagingmeans of said arm means.

9. A method of connecting together at an underwater location the matingends of two pipe sections, said method comprising:

(a) moving an underwater manipulator device through a body of water andpositioning it adjacent at least one of said pipe section ends;

(b) engaging said pipe section end with said manipulator device;

(c) moving said pipe section end to a position adjacent said mating pipesection end;

(d) engaging said mating pipe section end with said manipulator means;

(e) positioning said pipe section ends in spaced-apart axial alignmentone with the other; and

(f) moving said mating pipe section ends toward each other and intocoupling engagement. 7

10. A method of connecting together underwater two connectablespaced-apart mating elements, said method comprising: I

(a) moving an underwater manipulator device through a body of water andpositioning it adjacent said spaced-apart elements;

(b) separately engaging said spaced-apart elements with said manipulatordevice;

((2) moving said spaced-apart elements relative to each other intoconnectable position with said manipulator device; and,

(d) connecting said elements in fixed engagement one with the other.

11. A method of connecting the end of a first pipe line to the matingend of a second pipe line positioned at an underwater location, saidmethod comprising:

(a) connecting the end of said first pipe line to an underwatermanipulator device;

(b) lowering the end of said first pipe line with said manipulatordevice through a body of water to a position adjacent the mating end ofsaid second pipe line at the underwater location;

(c) engaging the mating end of said second pipe line with saidmanipulator device;

((1) moving the mating ends of said first and second pipe lines relativeto each other to a spaced-apart axially-aligned position one with theother; and,

(e) moving the mating ends of said first and second pipe lines axiallyinto fluidtight connectable engagement.

12. The method of claim 11 including the step of fixedly securingtogether the engaged ends of said first and second pipe lines.

13. The method of claim 11 including the step of subsequentlydisengaging said manipulator device from said first and second pipelines.

14. A method of connecting the end of a pipe line to a mating pipe linefitting on an underwater installation, said method comprising:

(a) connecting the end of said pipe line in exteriorly removableengagement with an underwater manipulator device;

(b) lowering the end of said pipe line with said manipulator devicethrough a body of water to a position adjacent the mating pipe linefitting of said underwater installation; I

(c) engaging said mating pipe line fitting with said manipulator device;

(d) moving the end of said pipe line with said manipulator device intoaxial alignment and engagement with said pipe line fitting on saidunderwater installation; and,

(e) connecting the end of the pipe line in fiuidtight engagement withsaid fitting of said underwater installation.

15. The method of claim 14 including the subsequent step ofdisconnecting said manipulator device from said pipe line.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein said manipulator device having thepipe line end connected thereto is lowered into cooperative engagementon said underwater installation.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Smith 61-69Lassen-Nielsen 6172.3 Hayes 61-69 X Watkins l66-.6 Van Winkle 166-.6

CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Examiner.

17. The method of claim 16 including the step of mov- 15 FAVREAU,Assistant Examiner-

1. APPARATUS FOR ENGAGING UNDERWATER TWO SPACED-APART ELEMENTS ANDBRINGING THEM INTO ALIGNMENT, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING: (A)UNDERWATER-OPERABLE MANIPULATOR MEANS MOVABLE THROUGH A BODY OF WATER TOA POSITION ADJACENT SAID SPACED-APART ELEMENTS; (B) FIRST AND SECONDMOVABLE ARM MEANS AXIALLY SPACED ALONG A SUBSTANTIALLY COMMON AXIS ANDEXTENDING OUTWARDLY OF AND CARRIED BY SAID MANIPULATOR MEANS; (C)ELEMENT-ENGAGING MEANS CARRIED BY EACH OF SAID MOVABLE MANIPULATOR ARMMEANS FOR SEPARATELY ENGAGING ONE OF SAID SPACED-APART ELEMENTS; (D)PRIME-MOVER MEANS CARRIED BY SAID MANIPULATOR MEANS AND OPERATIVELYCONNECTED TO SAID ARM MEANS FOR ACTUATING AND MOVING AT LEAST ONE OFSAID ARM MEANS WITH RELATION TO THE OTHER ALONG SAID AXIS WHEN BOTHELEMENT-ENGAGING MEANS ARE IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SPACED-APARTELEMENTS; AND, (E) GUIDE MEANS EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID ARM MEANS WHEREBYSAID ARM MEANS MOVE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER ALONG APREDETERMINED PATH.